BB: Kentucky Basketball Pro Day

[Eagles_Ball_69]

Yea I think he will flourish with Wilkins and zoom finding him. Aberdeen wasn’t exactly a passing type of guy. As far as Wilkins i understand that there are plenty of 6’6 guards. The way he plays with different speeds and his shiftiness helps with that lack of weight. Obviously he’s not going to be posting anyone up. Shai was essentially the same size and he didn’t bother him.

Wilkins is listed 10lbs lighter than SGA was. Just anecdotally speaking Wilkins looks quite a bit leaner than Shai did to me.

 

[Wildcat_in_DC]

Yea I know. Just stating some don’t care what he does they just hate pope for whatever reason. And some just love complaint and misery.

its not complaining or hating. its stating the obvious. the only misery that matters is 46 and 26 heading into year 3 with a team where the most likely outcome is another 11, 12 or 13 loss season.

 

[ScWildcat3]

Wilkins is listed 10lbs lighter than SGA was. Just anecdotally speaking Wilkins looks quite a bit leaner than Shai did to me.

Not comparing the 2 at all talent wise so don’t think I am but Wilkins is a lot quicker and faster at the same stage. That’s why I don’t worry about him being slender. Especially if he continues to show he can stretch the floor out farther and farther. He has an effortless shot from way out. He will benefit as well from not being the only option.

 

[ScWildcat3]

its not complaining or hating. its stating the obvious. the only misery that matters is 46 and 26 heading into year 3 with a team where the most likely outcome is another 11, 12 or 13 loss season.

Again just guessing without even seeing a game.

 

[Eagles_Ball_69]

Yea I think he will flourish with Wilkins and zoom finding him. Aberdeen wasn’t exactly a passing type of guy. As far as Wilkins i understand that there are plenty of 6’6 guards. The way he plays with different speeds and his shiftiness helps with that lack of weight. Obviously he’s not going to be posting anyone up. Shai was essentially the same size and he didn’t bother him.

I’m not sold on Diallo either. He’s pretty ball dominant. He needs to try to flourish as a facilitator and on ball defender. Essentially a Butler type. The ball sticks with him a lot. That needs to change…Agree on Aberdeen, but to be fair to him, that wasn’t his game nor why he was brought in. He was forced into that role. I thought he performed pretty well given the circumstances behind it all. I’d never call him a good PG, but that dude was a dog defensively and at least had the ability to get deep with penetration. He just wasn’t a good passer. Combine him at guard with Otega and it was just a bad mix. And Chandler was too much of a one trick pony.

Zoom and Wilkins have the potential to be much better if they get to their ceiling. But I think that’s a pretty big IF with both. I think we all have a pretty good idea what we’re getting with Mom and Moreno. Beyond that, there’s just a load of question marks, IMHO.

 

[ScWildcat3]

I’m not sold on Diallo either. He’s pretty ball dominant. He needs to try to flourish as a facilitator and on ball defender. Essentially a Butler type. The ball sticks with him a lot. That needs to change…Agree on Aberdeen, but to be fair to him, that wasn’t his game nor why he was brought in. He was forced into that role. I thought he performed pretty well given the circumstances behind it all. I’d never call him a good PG, but that dude was a dog defensively and at least had the ability to get deep with penetration. He just wasn’t a good passer. Combine him at guard with Otega and it was just a bad mix. And Chandler was too much of a one trick pony.

Zoom and Wilkins have the potential to be much better if they get to their ceiling. But I think that’s a pretty big IF with both. I think we all have a pretty good idea what we’re getting with Mom and Moreno. Beyond that, there’s just a load of question marks, IMHO.

Yea zoom imo will learn like butler did to defer and pick his spots. That micd up of pope he even said they want to get him spot up 3’s cuz of how good he shoots those. Which is true. His spot up % is really good. Butler flourished once he realized he could get shots elsewhere off the ball. Zoom will be essential for late clock opportunities though. He can get downhill and is a willing passer. Him and Alex are also great lob passers which we haven’t had under pope. The guy who is going to shock everyone is Mason. Dude is not a normal freshman. He was massively under ranked due to not playing as much on the circuits as everyone else.

 

[Eagles_Ball_69]

Not comparing the 2 at all talent wise so don’t think I am but Wilkins is a lot quicker and faster at the same stage. That’s why I don’t worry about him being slender. Especially if he continues to show he can stretch the floor out farther and farther. He has an effortless shot from way out. He will benefit as well from not being the only option.

Oh no, I get that. Shai at UK obviously wasnt the Shai of today. The skillset Wilkins has shown isn’t necessarily my concern. It’s the pounding that lean body will take regularly on a much different level of play/talent that he competed at last season. It’s a big, big jump.

I just don’t think it’s reasonable to expect a guy to average the same or more this year given the jump in competition. If he does, awesome. I’d project in more of the 10-12/game area. And if Mom gets 18, Moreno gets 15, and Diallo get that same 10-12…we might be on to something. My concern with the team as a whole is they’re going to be pretty bad defensively. That’s gonna require a lot more scoring than what I posted.

 

[mash_24]

We had the same exact concerns about Lamont Butler, same exact concerns and I bet every one of us would agree we would take Butler every year if we could.

If Zoom is the same kind of on ball defender Lamont was, I’ll be right there with you.

 

[Wildcat_in_DC]

Again just guessing without even seeing a game.

its likelihood not guessing. is it guessing that duke or florida will be really good or penn state will be terrible? are there surprises....of course but for the most part things are fairly predictable give or take some margin.

 

[ScWildcat3]

Oh no, I get that. Shai at UK obviously wasnt the Shai of today. The skillset Wilkins has shown isn’t necessarily my concern. It’s the pounding that lean body will take regularly on a much different level of play/talent that he competed at last season. It’s a big, big jump.

I just don’t think it’s reasonable to expect a guy to average the same or more this year given the jump in competition. If he does, awesome. I’d project in more of the 10-12/game area. And if Mom gets 18, Moreno gets 15, and Diallo get that same 10-12…we might be on to something. My concern with the team as a whole is they’re going to be pretty bad defensively. That’s gonna require a lot more scoring than what I posted.

Oh I don’t expect him to get 17 a game. But I expect he is way more efficient and will have some explosive scoring spurts and nights. He also is a willing passer who don’t mind deferring to get others shots. Mom will get all the looks he wants with those 2 and Moreno. If Moreno can show he can’t be left 1 on 1 like he will early in the season then we can be really dangerous offensively. Defensively we won’t be some elite defense but we will be plenty good enough I believe. Don’t underestimate the length we will have. Moreno is also a good shot blocker. Franck won’t be bullied either. Mom at the 3 is the only spot where I think we could be abused but he’s good enough and seasoned enough to play solid d. He did come from a defensive team and played a ton there.

 

[ScWildcat3]

its likelihood not guessing. is it guessing that duke or florida will be really good or penn state will be terrible? are there surprises....of course but for the most part things are fairly predictable give or take some margin.

No your only guessing off of past teams not this team so it’s not likelihood. You haven’t seen this team play. But by your way of thinking Duke will flame out again by bad coaching. Houston will choke and Tennessee will make elite 8.

 

[Wildcat_in_DC]

I’m not sold on Diallo either. He’s pretty ball dominant. He needs to try to flourish as a facilitator and on ball defender. Essentially a Butler type. The ball sticks with him a lot. That needs to change…Agree on Aberdeen, but to be fair to him, that wasn’t his game nor why he was brought in. He was forced into that role. I thought he performed pretty well given the circumstances behind it all. I’d never call him a good PG, but that dude was a dog defensively and at least had the ability to get deep with penetration. He just wasn’t a good passer. Combine him at guard with Otega and it was just a bad mix. And Chandler was too much of a one trick pony.

Zoom and Wilkins have the potential to be much better if they get to their ceiling. But I think that’s a pretty big IF with both. I think we all have a pretty good idea what we’re getting with Mom and Moreno. Beyond that, there’s just a load of question marks, IMHO.

one play stood out to me regarding diallo. i think it was in the first and second session, diallo got a kick out pass from someone and instead of instantly swinging it to ndiaye who was having a good day for an open 3 pointer he just held the ball and starred at the lane then drove in, pivoted and kicked it to someone.

no one plays perfect, seems like a fixable thing. but at the time i'm like, what are you doing?

 

[RunninRichie]

Again just guessing without even seeing a game.

He’s noticing a pattern. A median.

 

[ScWildcat3]

He’s noticing a pattern. A median.

I get what he’s doing. And I would agree if we had the same team. Or even close to the same.

 

[Wildcat_in_DC]

No your only guessing off of past teams not this team so it’s not likelihood. You haven’t seen this team play. But by your way of thinking Duke will flame out again by bad coaching. Houston will choke and Tennessee will make elite 8.

forecasting based off:

• pope as a coach: doesnt get defense, can win big games but gets blown out regularly
• current roster construction: guard play, lack of physicality, lack of star player/elite talent
• schedule: SEC will be brutal getting 10-12 teams into the NCAAT

is it that difficult to think duke will probably enter the NCAAT as a 1 seed with just 2, maybe 3 losses? is it possible they lose 12 game.....i suppose so. but unlikely. do i really need to "see" duke to think this way....really?

 

[ScWildcat3]

forecasting based off:

• pope as a coach: doesnt get defense, can win big games but gets blown out regularly
• current roster construction: guard play, lack of physicality, lack of star player/elite talent
• schedule: SEC will be brutal getting 10-12 teams into the NCAAT

is it that difficult to think duke will probably enter the NCAAT as a 1 seed with just 2, maybe 3 losses? is it possible they lose 12 game.....i suppose so. but unlikely. do i really need to "see" duke to think this way....really?

So all those are based off injury plagued 2 seasons. What if we stay fully healthy? You know who has the most top 15 wins in the last 2 years? We don’t have a star player? Milan wouldn’t be considered a star player? Moreno if he takes a jump which most say he looks to have already taken isn’t good enough to be a star player? Also I can see Duke having more than 2-3 losses. Especially with scheyer. Acc isn’t tough though unfortunately.

 

[Eagles_Ball_69]

I get what he’s doing. And I would agree if we had the same team. Or even close to the same.

We’ve had two completely different teams. All with question marks. One constant has been there. Thats probably the genesis of a lot of the forecasting. And it’s completely fair. It’d be different if this team were loaded and very few questions. That’s not the case. Mom and Moreno are probably the only two you have solid evidence of what you’re going to get matching what it is this team needs.

 

[ScWildcat3]

We’ve had two completely different teams. All with question marks. One constant has been there. Thats probably the genesis of a lot of the forecasting. And it’s completely fair. It’d be different if this team were loaded and very few questions. That’s not the case. Mom and Moreno are probably the only two you have solid evidence of what you’re going to get matching what it is this team needs.

Nobody not even you could’ve predicted the injuries

 

[Eagles_Ball_69]

Nobody not even you could’ve predicted the injuries

For sure. But the record is what it is. One team had little depth. The other had poor roster construction. And even at full health, there’s first team had some head scratching losses (and some very good wins). Again, all question marks. Just like some of these players that have moved up in levels, I need to see that Mark Pope and his staff can do it too. So far, they haven’t shown they can. Sooner or later the explanations and excuses have to stop. You either do or you don’t. That’s the business they’re in.

 

[ScWildcat3]

For sure. But the record is what it is. One team had little depth. The other had poor roster construction. And even at full health, there’s first team had some head scratching losses (and some very good wins). Again, all question marks. Just like some of these players that have moved up in levels, I need to see that Mark Pope and his staff can do it too. So far, they haven’t shown they can. Sooner or later the explanations and excuses have to stop. You either do or you don’t. That’s the business they’re in.

The first team didn’t have little depth. Just had all the injuries to the same position. What head scratching losses did the first team have while fully healthy?

 

[Catastic5]

For sure. But the record is what it is. One team had little depth. The other had poor roster construction. And even at full health, there’s first team had some head scratching losses (and some very good wins). Again, all question marks. Just like some of these players that have moved up in levels, I need to see that Mark Pope and his staff can do it too. So far, they haven’t shown they can. Sooner or later the explanations and excuses have to stop. You either do or you don’t. That’s the business they’re in.

Apparently Mark Pope is a perennial excuse maker according to what BYU fans have said and what we’ve witnessed ourselves, so more excuses will be all but certain once the season doesn’t go as expected.

 

[Eagles_Ball_69]

The first team didn’t have little depth. Just had all the injuries to the same position. What head scratching losses did the first team have while fully healthy?

Got housed vs tOSU and UGA, correct? I’m going purely off memory here. Maybe Clemson too???

 

[ScWildcat3]

Got housed vs tOSU and UGA, correct? I’m going purely off memory here. Maybe Clemson too???

Lamont got hurt against Clemson and the game turned. Then Kerr went out the same week. Osu is only game we got throttled and we just played awful. Even then we was down to 1 pg.

 

[theKybluedude]

its not complaining or hating. its stating the obvious. the only misery that matters is 46 and 26 heading into year 3 with a team where the most likely outcome is another 11, 12 or 13 loss season.

Well it’s water under the bridge now. Let’s put it in the rear view and all get positive moving forward. Let that “misery” go and hope and pray CMP has learned and improved and is ready to step up to the UK standards. Adopt a new outlook until you can’t. If it goes bad then it’s time to reevaluate. Hope that the team gets and stays healthy and plays to its full ability. Can’t change anything now so might as well see how it goes and be a good fan if you are a UK fan.

I have a lot of faith in the roster. No excuse not to be a top team this season. Deep. Several players I think can be on the All Sec teams. No coach wants it more or cares more about UK than CMP. He’s a fine role model and a classy guy. This could be the beginning of a great story. Can he get it done? Well let’s see. Throw it up. Proof’s in the pudding. Year 3. Thats when many outstanding coaches start to hit their stride at a big program.

 

[Eagles_Ball_69]

Lamont got hurt against Clemson and the game turned. Then Kerr went out the same week. Osu is only game we got throttled and we just played awful. Even then we was down to 1 pg.

Losing to Clemson and UGA were both head scratching, no?

 

[ScWildcat3]

Losing to Clemson and UGA were both head scratching, no?

Uga maybe but not Clemson. And road games In sec are never head scratching to me. Clemson was a top 25 team coming off an elite 8 season.

 

[UKgrad22]

Losing to Clemson and UGA were both head scratching, no?

That UGA team needed to get investigated because they were shooting about 30 FT’s a game at home. Shot 38 to our 19 when we played them at GA.

 

[ScWildcat3]

That UGA team needed to get investigated because they were shooting about 30 FT’s a game at home. Shot 38 to our 19 when we played them at GA.

Yea that game was weird. We got mugged all night. I was at that one with an uga fan and even he couldn’t believe it.

 

[Eagles_Ball_69]

Uga maybe but not Clemson. And road games In sec are never head scratching to me. Clemson was a top 25 team coming off an elite 8 season.

Coming off of? Cmon now. That was the previous team. If UK is good, like UK good…we aren’t getting bent by UGA (that was like a 12-15 point game the whole way) and getting beat by Clemson. When year 1 team was good, they were pretty good. But they were bad at times, when healthy too. Kinda the book on Pope. Just all over the place. Play. Media. Rosters. No consistency in anything he does. Hence my concerns with a roster with a ton of question marks.

 

[Eagles_Ball_69]

That UGA team needed to get investigated because they were shooting about 30 FT’s a game at home. Shot 38 to our 19 when we played them at GA.

Lol. There’s always some sort of Popesplanation. It was a wide margin all game. And yes, that game was an absolute blood bath. But still, got owned and beat up. No denying it. To a very pedestrian UGA team.

 

[JwUKFan11]

Not to be pessimistic but Zoom's play stood out the most to me. I'm hesitatant to believe he can play winning basketball for the majority of his minutes. While big and physically, he's often a ball stopper who over dribbles.
Bottom line, his game better improve bc this isn't Washington and he's gonna be relied on early.

I compared him to Hagans over the offseason for those who had not watched him play. I loved Hagans, but most of the posters here didn't while he was here. I like those types of PGs, but most UK fans here don't.

 

[ScWildcat3]

I compared him to Hagans over the offseason for those who had not watched him play. I loved Hagans, but most of the posters here didn't while he was here. I like those types of PGs, but most UK fans here don't.

He won’t shave points or be accused of it though will he?

 

[JwUKFan11]

N'Diaye is the exact type of player that will be great in scrimmages and practice and struggle in games. His handle isn't good enough when the defense presses and he isn't going to bang in the paint. If he isn't open off screens or not shooting the ball well, he probably won't be scoring as much as people think.

 

[ScWildcat3]

N'Diaye is the exact type of player that will be great in scrimmages and practice and struggle in games. His handle isn't good enough when the defense presses and he isn't going to bang in the paint. If he isn't open off screens or not shooting the ball well, he probably won't be scoring as much as people think.

Wasn’t aware we relied on our 4 to handle the ball in press situations. Also you know he has been in grown man euro ball. It’s way more physical over there than in the states.

 

[JwUKFan11]

Wasn’t aware we relied on our 4 to handle the ball in press situations. Also you know he has been in grown man euro ball. It’s way more physical over there than in the states.

lol I'm not talking about full court press. I'm talking about when he gets the ball on the perimeter, they are going to press up on him and make him put it on the floor or just give it up.

 

[Eagles_Ball_69]

Wasn’t aware we relied on our 4 to handle the ball in press situations. Also you know he has been in grown man euro ball. It’s way more physical over there than in the states.

Wait…European basketball is physical? Huh?

 

[ScWildcat3]

Wait…European basketball is physical? Huh?

Have you ever watched any euro basketball or you being sarcastic ?

 

[Eagles_Ball_69]

Have you ever watched any euro basketball or you being sarcastic ?

I have. And have seen plenty of Euros playing here. Very skilled and big. Just not physical. In fact, they are traditionally very soft.

 

[ScWildcat3]

I have. And have seen plenty of Euros playing here. Very skilled and big. Just not physical. In fact, they are traditionally very soft.

I just said that euro basketball is a rough league. Didn’t say anything about the ones who played here. Ousmane actually played Euro ball though not some Icelandic league or whatever big z played. Just need Ousmane to hit open shots block some shots and rebound.

 

[kyjeff1]

Coming off of? Cmon now. That was the previous team. If UK is good, like UK good…we aren’t getting bent by UGA (that was like a 12-15 point game the whole way) and getting beat by Clemson. When year 1 team was good, they were pretty good. But they were bad at times, when healthy too. Kinda the book on Pope. Just all over the place. Play. Media. Rosters. No consistency in anything he does. Hence my concerns with a roster with a ton of question marks.

Duke lost at Clemson that season too. Clemson is extremely tough in that gym and IIRC, that was our first true road game, but not sure.
Losing to Clemson on the road isn’t a bad loss and it’s not like we got housed.
The loss to Ohio State was inexcusable and for whatever reason, Pope cant beat Alabama, or UGA, but he gets thege best of Tennessee. Weird.
I don't know what it is with that CBS classic, but we keep losing and we always look like we never saw a basketball before. It’s not just Pope’s teams, Cal's teams kept getting pantsed against ucla and osu too. Not unc so much.